Azores Airlines cabin crew have warned they could strike for up to three days unless the carrier provides satisfactory answers to workplace demands within ten days. The conditional threat follows a vote at an extraordinary meeting of the SNPVAC cabin crew union in Lisbon on 30 October. No strike dates have been set. The dispute concerns implementation of the existing company agreement, not demands for higher pay.
The union’s motion authorising its leadership to pursue strike action passed by 48 votes to five, with eight abstentions among 61 participants. The demands include correcting roster irregularities, restoring seniority for crew members whose medical absences exceeded 30 days, recognising qualifying absences as justified and reinstating agreed rights for employees on flexible schedules.
SNPVAC also objects to restrictions on rest seats for cabin crew on the A321 and is seeking clearer rules for holiday leave and a review of staffing levels at each base. Its motion linked the workplace dispute to delays and uncertainty surrounding the airline’s privatisation, which the union says affect company stability, service continuity to the Azores and job security.
Any industrial action could disrupt the regional carrier’s operations, but the union has not called a strike. Its next step depends on the airline’s response within the ten-day period.